Curious by nature, Jakie always loved hearing a good story. Whether it was by questioning all of her uncles on their life stories or reading biographies on the people she admired, Jakie was fascinated by how stories shape our understanding. After earning her masters degree, she decided it was time to write stories instead of just listening to them. Inspired by her little cousin, who understood the true meaning of giving, one of Jakie's first stories encourages children to think of others and give back. A Southern California girl at heart, Jakie enjoys going to the beach, camping with her family, and learning new songs to play on her ukulele.